Becoming a Nanny - How do I 'Qualify?'

Q.

I am interested in looking into an overseas, live-in position as a nanny for a family. I have not had consistant childcare experience since babysitting as a teenager, and therefore have little "experience" to include in a resume. I do, however, work in the healthcare field, and my past experience with working with children, is flawless.

I'm just afraid that since I'm not a "professional" nanny, that it may work against me. What can I do to "qualify" myself to be considered for a possible position?

A.

Working in a healthcare field is a great start for a potential nanny, so including this relevant experience in your CV and selecting a reference who will be able to discuss how your employment will help you guard the health and safety of children in your care are great first steps towards making yourself a viable nanny candidate.

At the moment there is no formal, legal qualification for nannies in the UK which means that you will need to assess your own employment history and history of working with children to decide what you are strong on and what you are lacking. For example, if you lack consistent experience with toddlers then you might try to gain employment working with this group before looking for a full time nanny position. Similarly, if all you lack is some form of certification then you may want to investigate child care certifications available to you.

There are some online and distance learning courses available for those interested in learning more about childcare, though it can be hard to find out who accredits these courses and what they actually mean. City & Guild courses are also available in childcare related subjects, as are university courses, Montessori courses and even full programmes at recognised nanny schools such as Norland College and Chiltern College.

Acquiring a certification from a recognised programme such as City & Guilds, Montessori, a university or nanny school is often part of what separates sought after nannies from those unable to find a full time, live-in position. Another part is excellent references.

If you already have references that can attest to your healthcare experience, experience with children and experience as an employee then you'll want to concentrate on finding a reference who can discuss your education as it relates to childcare. This means that if you do decide to gain a formal certificate in childcare you'll want to target an individual to act as your reference when applying for nanny positions in the future. Asking this person if they will act as your reference is imperative so that you can confidently give his or her details to a prospective employer.

You are well on your way to becoming a professional nanny. Ask around to find out what the employers that you would like to target generally want in a nanny and then set out to get it. Good luck!

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